Knitting machine



Sept. 8, 1942. B CQLE 2,295,450

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet l 14 I 28 o 36 Fzg. l. 25 O 'l x I 9 I! 1 I l i l i I- I 1 mventor' fiernarcl Z1 Cole,

Sept. 8, 1942. COLE 2,295,450

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnventor' I Bernard 2? Cole,

A ttd'heg Sept. 8, 1942. B. T. COLE 2,295,450

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 21; 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s Bernard Z 6'0 Sept. 8, 1942. COLE 2,295,450

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1949 e Sheets- Sheet 4 Fig. 4.

e 17 2 i I 10 l .IH I I I6 I III hall v lnventor' 4 ,Bernard 1? Cole,

Sept. 8, 1942. C 2,295,450

KNITTING. MACHINE Filed June 21, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet Fig. 5.

I7 10 z 2 I I619 13 64 6' l f 60 v x 30 29 Fig. 6. 36

28 66 V My! 1 2!) 24 10' L@@ 7 /fl|/8!7l 0/' ,Bernard 1. Cole,

y @g Q zlttome I I Sept. 8, 1942. B. T. COLE KNITTING MACHINE a Sh'eets-She et 6 Filed June 21, 1940 Inventor Aka/neg Patented Sept. 8, 1542 xm'rrmc momma Bernard Thornton Cole, Bnrbage, signor to B. Toone (Nottingham) Limited,

tingham, England Application June 21, 1940, Serial No. In Great Britain June 2:, 1939 20 Claims.

This invention is for improvement in or relating to knitting machines, and is particularly but a- Not- (cite-134) not exclusively, concerned with splicing mechanism in seamless hose and half hose machines. In producing splicing on a circular knitting machine it is usual to introduce the splicing thread into knitting activity for a predetermined portion of each course, the splicing thread floating chordlike in the interior of the needle circle for that portion of each course during which it is not knitted. These floats are subsequently cut out by hand. -A specific object of the invention is to provide splicing mechanism wherein the formation of floats, to be cut subsequently, is obviated. The invention is, however, broadly applicable to the case in which-two yarns are fed to the needles, one of them (e. g. a splicing yarn) being fed to a restricted number of, needles for incorporation in a restricted area of fabric, and the other being also fed to the needles and knitted thereby beyond. the area incorporating the first yarn. It will therefore be appreciated that while in the said area both yarns may be knitted, as in splicing, the invention is also applicable to the production of split work. As hereinafter appears the invention provides for the regulation of the length of the loose end that protrudes from the fabric at the leading edge of the splicing or the like, and for the shortening of the end yarn which is introduced to the needles by the splicing feeder or the like.

Although the invention is not restricted in its scope to splicing mechanism except as hereinafter defined in the appended claims, in order that it may be better understoodits application to the splicing mechanism of a seamless hose or cylinder, with the splicing feeder and the cutter in the inoperative position prior to the commencement of splicing;

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3, but showing the position of the various parts at the first introduction of the splicing thread;

Figure 5 is a similar view but showing the cutting of the splicing thread at the end of the first splicing course; while Figure 6 is a similar view but showing the reintroduction'of the splicing thread course other than the first.

Figures? and 8 are -views similar to thoseof Figs. 5 and 6, but illustrating a modified construction.

Figures tions. Y

The saidmachine is provided at an appropriate point in its diameter with a plurality of interchangeable yarn feeding fingers which are adapted to be raised selectively from positions in which for a splicing 9 and 10 illustrate further modificatheir feeder eyes lie outside the needle circle to non-feeding positions in which said eyes lie inside the needle circle. This upward movement is effected by push rods in known manner. One of the feeders is employed'to feed asplicing thread and said feeder is therefore lowered to the feeding position during a portion of each revolution. In the accompanying drawings, for the sake of convenience only this splicing feeder Ill, and its push rod H, are shown, since the other feeders are similar in construction and arrangement. The commencement and termination of' the splicing is determined by a cam (part of which is shown at I! in Fig. 1) on the main drum ll of the machine, but the period of dwell of the splicing feeder III in the feeding position during each course is variably determined by splicing control mechanism hereinafter referred to.

The aforesaid feeders are mounted on a horizontal spindle I4 carried in a feeder bracket I 5.

On the said spindle Hi there is also an arm it, which carries a feeding eye 22, an adjustment screw i 7 bearing on a pin l8 on the splicing feeder Hi. The said arm l6 also carries a yarn-engaging and retarding device here shown as a cymbal device l9 consisting of two adjustable springpressed tension discs between which the splicing,

thread S in its passage from the supply to the eye I0 of the splicing feeder I0 is arranged to run. The lowered position of the device I9 is determined by an adjustable tappet screw 20 in the arm l5, which screw then rests on a part of the feeder bracket l5. As the splicing feeder I0 is raised to non-feeding position the arm I6 is also raised either immediately, or after a slight lag, according to the adjustment afforded by the when the.

said screws Fl and 20. Conversely, splicing feeder is introduced the device I9 is brought to rest by the screw'20 before the feeder reaches its feeding position, so that during the remainder of the movementof the splicing feeder III the feeding eye of the latter moves down the splicing thread (assuming that the thread has a loose end as shown in Figs.'5 and 6) which is held in the device l9. In effect then, upon the introduction of the splicing feeder In in any course other than the first splicing course, the loose end is drawn back through the feeding eye. -The extent of this draw back determines the length of the loose end of thread that projects from the fabric at the commencement of a splicing course, and this is governed by the extent of th feeder movement after the device I! is brought .to rest by screw 20. Hence the adjustment of screw 20 governs the length of said loose end.

The feeder bracket I is secured to a suitable support on tire machine and carries a horizontal pin 25 located at the rear of the spindle l4 aforesaid and it may be here mentioned that the feeder bracket and associated mechanism, and the latch ring 2| and cutter arm 26, may be capable of being swung up about this pin 25. On this pin 25 a cutter arm 26 is pivotedandthe said cutter arm extends inwards across the needle circle, and at its inner end carries acutter block 21 which in the operative position, rests with a part 21' (which may have an adjusting screw associated with it) on the usual trapper plate 36.

The cutter block 21 carries a fixed cutter blade 29 and a vertically movable cutter blade 30. In the operative position these blades are located below the level of the plate 36 and are preferably located at an angle to the radial (as is best shown in Fig. 2) so that they may cut as close to the interior'of the. needle circle as is practicable. The movable cutter blade 30 is attached to a rod 3| which extends slidably up the interior of the cutter block and is biased in an upward direction, to open the knife blades 29, 30, by a leaf spring 60 secured to the cutter arm 26. The said blade 30 is arranged to be lowered, to cut, by means of cutter-operating lever 6| pivoted to the cutter arm 26 at 62. cutter-operating lever 6| overlies the top end of an adjustable tappet screw 28 in the arm |6. Therefore when the splicing feeder l0 rises at the termination of splicing in each course it raises the arm l6 (either immediately or after a short lag according to the adjustment of the. tappet screws I1 and 20) and .the trapper arm even-- tually rocks the cutter-operating lever 6| to eflect severance of the withdrawn thread at. a time when said thread has (as is indicated by a chain dotted line in Figure 2) been carried between the knife blades by the rotation of the needle cylinder. The withdrawn thread is thus cut at a point in close proximity to the interior of the fabric. The lag between the withdrawal of the thread and the operation of the cutter, and therefore the distance between the cutter and the last splicing needle at the moment of severance, is determined by the adjustment of the tappet screw 28. The upward movement of the lever l6 and the adjusted position of the tappet 28 may or may not be sufficient to cause a slight upward movement of the cutter block 21.

The cutter-operating lever 6| also carries an opening finger 63 in the form of a piece of bent wire adjustably secured to it by means of a screw 64. This wire 63 is so shaped and disposed that when the lever 6| is operated to cut the withdrawn splicing thread its free end enters between the two discs constituting the cymbal device l9 and releases the friction and/or twist on the splicing thread. Conversely when' the splicing feeder I0 is lowered to introduce the thread there comes a stage when the' downward move- The outer end of this operating lever 6| to rock on its pivot 62 under the influence of the spring 66 so that the end of the wire 63 is lifted from between the tension discs of the device It. Therefore at this stage the cymbal device I! grips the splicing thread and thereafter continued downward movement of the feeding eye III of the splicing feeder produces a draw back" of the free end of the splicing thread through said eye, by which draw back the length of the projecting free end'at the commencement of splicing in each course is minimised. Although in the main the extent of this draw back (and of the length of the loose end) is governed by the adjustment of screw 26, yet it may also be controlled by adjustment of the wire 63. For example, if the wire 63 is so adjusted for position that it lifts from between the discs of the device I! at a comparatively early stage, the gripping of the splicing thread by the device II will occur earlier, with the result that a greater draw back will be produced and the loose end will be further shortened. An important object of this opening finger 63, however, is-to release the twist in the yarn at frequent intervals in order to effect the introduction of the splicing thread with reasonable certainty at a predetermined needle in each course. If the twist in the yarn, which is acquired by constant frictional engagement between the cymbals, is not released frequently, it becomes so strong as to cause the loose end of yarn when cut to fly about in such manner as to be missed by some of the needles required to knit it. This method of releasing the twist, however, may be dispensed with if there is mounted on the shaft ll a suitably curved lever 66 having its end 66' located in proximity to the needle circle and formed with a vertical slot 66. When the splicing feeder III rises to withdraw the splicing thread from the needles the said thread is carried into the slot 65 and after severance the loose end remains therein, and is thereby prevented from flying about. This slot being substantially opposite the feeding eye l6, when the feeder is introduced the splicing threadis positioned by said slot and is accurately laid across the needle circle. When in use during splicing, the lower extremity of said curved arm 66 rests on the latch ring 2| Just above the heads of the descending needles. When the splicing feeder III is withdrawn permanently from activity (as contrasted with the temporary withdrawal effected course after course when part-round splicing is being produced) the upward movement of the cutter arm 26 raises said arm 66 to an inoperative position since said arm 66 for a portion of its length overlies the cutter arm 26.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figure 9 the arm 66 is provided with an integral guard plate 66" alongside the slot 65. This guard plate prevents yarns other than the splicing yarn from entering the slot 65 or fouling the end of the splicing yarn. In addition a curved finger I3 extends from the base of the guard plate 66" and in effect provides between it and the base of the arm-extremity 66 a curved laterally-directed continuation of or entry mouth to the slot 65. A support III is provided for taking the weight of the arm 66 ,when the latter is in the operative position. The cutterarm 26 may be swung by hand to an upper position in which it afiords free access to the needles and other parts. In this upward movement the arm 66 is likewise raised to a position beyond dead centre. In this inoperativev position it rests against the curved part 6| ment of the tappet screw 28 permits the cutterof the cutter-operating lever 8|,

Instead of. the eye of the splicing feeder being afforded by an elongated tube of metal it may, as shown in Figure 10, be afforded by a resilient tube II. This tube may consist of a ring of bristles of hair, rubber or the like set in a washer I2 in the end of the feeder III, or it may consist of a flexible tube of solid material such for example as rubber. If a flexible feeding arrangement such as that just described is adopted the outlet end from the feeder l may be located much closer to the needle when in the feeding position, because in movement to and from said position the flexible end of the feeder may pass .between the needles without damaging them.

'The splicing control mechanism is substantially similar to that commonly employed on Scott 8: Williams machines and consists of a horizontallyguided bar 46 extending fore-and-aft of the machine and adjustable lengthwis by a splicing cam 4| at the rear of the machine, this cam being stepped round at appropriate intervals. As will be understood, the shape of the spliced area is determined by the shape of this cam 4| and by the manner in which it isstepped round, this latter movement being effected and controlled (e. g. controlled from the pattern chain) in known manner. On this bar 40 a substantially horizontal lever 42 is pivoted intermediate its ends, which lever 42 when rocked upon its pivot (as it is at each revolution) serves by means of a cross lever 24 to raise the splicing feeder push rod II to withdraw the said feeder. In order to rock this lever 42 there is an operating cam 43 on the main shaft 44 of the machine which operates a substantially vertical rock arm 45. This rock arm 45 engages, by means of a lift plate 46 which is secured to it, with a nose 4].

companied by closure of the cutter.

It is within the scope of the invention to operate the cutter in each course by means of a control separate from the splicing feeder control, for example by means of mechanism similar to that described in the preceding paragraph. In the illustrated example, however, there is merely a separate control which operates at the commencement and termination of a spliced area. On the drum l3 there is a cam part of which is shown at 48 which co-operates with a push rod 49 attached to the cutter arm 26. Obviously, in exactly the same way that the splicing feeder ||l cannot be operated unless push rod II is off cam l2, the cutter cannot be dropped to operating position unless push rod 49 is off cam 48.

Prior to commencement ofv a spliced area the push rods II and 49 rest upon their respective cams l2 and 48 and the splicing feeder I6 and the cutter 21 etc. are held raised as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The splicing thread 8 extends at this time from the eye ID of the splicing feeder underneath a spring finger 50 on the trapper plate 36 and into the ordinary trapper and cutter 52. Continued rotation of the drum I3 removes the cams I2, 28 from beneath the push rods so that the splicing feeder i6 and the cutter 21 are permitted to drop to the operative posi-' tion. In this movement, as is shown in Figures 3 2 and 4. the eye III of the splicing feeder moves outwards and downwards across the line of the needles. Therefore the splicing threadis taken andknitted by the needles and its loose end is drawn by the rotation of the needle cylinder out .knives 28, 88 which are operated with a suitable lag to out said thread as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figure 5, and it has already been ponted out that the extent of said lag determines the length of the loose end projecting at the end of the spliced part ofthe course. At the commencement of splicing in the next spliced course the splicing feederlll is again. moved into feeding position to carry its thread, across the line of needles as shown in Figure 6. The thread is therefore taken by the needles and knitted and it has .already been pointed out that the adjustment of screw 20 determines the extent to which said loose end is drawn back by the grip of the cymbal device l9 and determines the length of the loose end and that projects from the fabric at the commencement of this spliced course. At the termination of a spliced area the cams i2, 48 again pass underneath their push rods. As a result not only is the splicing feeder rendered inoperative but the cutter is raised as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Therefore the thread extending from the feeder eye III to the last spliced loop will not be cut by the knives 28 and 30, but will be carried-by the rotation of the needle cylinder under the spring 56 and into the is so arranged that for equal angular movements equal lifts are provided.

A modified .construction is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. In this modified construction the cutter-operating lever 6| is dispensed with and the tappet screw 28 is arranged underneath a projecting portion on the cutter arm 26. Therefore when the arm l6 rises upon the withdrawal of the splicing thread at the end of the spliced portion of a course the cutter arm 26 is raised slightly, after the appropriate lag, and lifts the cutter block 21. This upward movement of the cutter block 21 causes the cutters 28, 30 topperate. The said block 21 is formed with a vertical central hole in which the spindle 3| of an upper knife-blade 36 is rotatably and slidably housed. The two said knife-blades 28, 30, which extend outwards towards the needle circle, are urged into face engagement by a leaf spring 32 which presses against the upper blade 30. The spindle 3| to which said upper blade 30 is attached has an abutment 33 at its upper end, between which abutment 33 and a lower abutment 34 on the cutter block a tension spring 35 extends. This tension spring 35 therefore tends to lower the upper knife-blade 30 and to close the cutter. The cutter is opened in'the following manner: As the cutter block 21 is lowered, concurrently with the introduction of the splicing feeder III to feeding position, the lower end of the'aforesaid knife spindle 3| is brought down into contact with the trapper plate 36 of the usual trapping and cutting mechanism provided in the interior of the needle circle. Continued downward movement of the .cutter therefore causes the upper blade versely, when the splicing feeder III is raised to non-feeding position, and the cutter arm 28 rises also, the two blades 28, 30 close under the influence of said tension spring 85.

The cutter block 21 does not commence to rise until some short time after the splicing feeder In has started to rise. This lag ensures that the eye of the splicing feeder ID has passed to the inside of the needles and the splicing thread S has been withdrawn from knitting, while the cutter is still open. Continued rotation of the needle cylinder thereupon carries the withdrawn splicing thread S extending from the splicing feeder to the last splicing needle into the open cutter. The cutter thereupon makes an upward movement (accompanied by afurther upward movement of the splicing feeder) and the knives close to cut the withdrawn yarn.

This lag 'between the withdrawal of the feeder and the operation of the cutter is in part determined by'the position of the adjusting screws l1 and 28 and/or may be in part determined either by appropriate arrangement of the splicing control mechanism (giving a two stage upward movement to the splicing feeder). It may be pointed out that the adjustment provided by screws I1 and 28 may be regarded as variably determining the spacing between the cutter, at the moment of its operation, and the last splicing needle.

Obviously the lag determines the length of the loose end of splicing yarn projecting from the interior of the fabric at the point of withdrawal and it will readily be appreciated that if the screw I1 is screwed down and/or the screw 28 is screwed up, the cutter will operate at an earlier stage in the withdrawal of the cutter and the loose end will be shorter.

Instead of operating the cutter from the feeder, or providing an entirelyseparate control, the cutter may derive its movements from. a member in the mechanism that operates the feeder.

In both constructions illustrated, the eye of the splicing feeder I0 is preferably constituted by a small bore tube It, since such a tube directs the end of the splicing thread in a straight line and in a substantially rigid manner across the needles when the splicing feeder is dropped to feeding position.

It will :be appreciated that the mechanism may be pre-set to give a certain length of loose end at each edge of the spliced area and that the shape or circumferential extent of the spliced area may thereafter be varied by the. variable splicing mechanism, without anyappreciable change F in length in the loose ends which are produced, as knitting proceeds down the spliced area.- This result follows because the cutter 29, always operates at the same distance from the last needle in a course to take the thread S so that the length edge of the spliced area is constant, and because of the loose ends produced at the last knitted for each course there is produced and presented the length of the loose ends projecting from the resultant fabric at the first formed edge thereof is constant also.

The cutter 21 is placed at "an appropriate point in the circumference of the needle circle, and

fairly close to the interior of the needle circle, a suitable position being shown in Fig. 2. When the splicing thread S is cotton, shorter ends may be obtained than with silk or artificial silk, by virtue of their respective frictional properties. Therefore, for cotton, an additional sinker cam llll, Fig. 3, may be fitted at the radial position occupied by the cutter 21 to retract the sinkers l0! at that position and to allow the cutter to be located closer to the needles.

The invention is applicable to a machine having -a plurality of feeding positions and a plurality of knitting cams.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, the combination with needles, means for operating them to knit, means including a feeder for feeding a knitting yarn to the needles for a portion of successive courses and for withdrawing it at the end of said portion in each said course, and a severing device for severing the withdrawn yarn at each withdrawal. of means for shortening, subsequent to severance, the length of the severed end of yarn protruding from the feeder for re-introduction to the fabric.

2. In a knitting machine, thecombination with needles, means for operating them to knit, means including a feeder for introducing a yarn to the needles for a predetermined period and for then withdrawing it, and means for severing the withdrawn yarn, of means for reducing, subsequent to severance and while the end of the yarn is free, the length of yarn extending from the feeder to the severed end.

' 3. In a knitting machine, the combination with needles, means for operating them to knit, means including a feeder for introducing a yarn to the needles for a predetermined period and for then withdrawing it, and means for severing the with drawn yarn, of means for subsequently reducing, for re-presentation to the needles, the length of .said yarn extending from the feeder to the severed end at the time of severance, and means for presenting said reduced length to the needles with its end free. 1

4. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said shortening means comprises means for efiecting relative movement between the yarn and eeder.

5. In a knitting machine, the combination with needles, means for operating them to knit, means including a feeder for introducing a yam to the needles for a predetermined period and for then withdrawing it, and means for severing the withdrawn yarn, of means for subsequently effecting relative movement between the yarn and the f eeder, with the severed end of yarn free, and for thereby reducing, for re-presentation to the needles, the length of yarn extending from the feeder to the severed end.

6. In a knitting machine having needles, means 'for operating them to knit, and means including a feeder for repeatedly resenting a yarn to the needles for inclusion in portions of courses in the production of an area of fabric incorporating said yarn, said yam being withdrawn from the needles between successive portions, the combination of a cutter for cutting the yarn at each withdrawal thereof to leave a free end protruding from the feeder, and a shortening device for shortening the length of said free end for representation to the needles.

7. A combination according to claim 6, wherea 7 ,295,456 I in the shortening device comprises yarn engag-- means for operating them to knit, and means including a feeder movabl between feeding and non-feeding positions for repeatedly presenting a yarn to the needles for inclusion in the fabric, said yarn being withdrawn from the needles between successive inclusions, the combination of means for severing the yarn at each withdrawal thereof to leave a free end protruding from the feeder for re-presentation to the needles, a yam engaging and retarding device through which the yarn runs to the feeder, means for displacing said device shortly after the feeder commences movement from feeding position and for restoring it as the feeder moves into feeding position, and a stop for determining the position of said device while the feeder is feeding and for terminating said restoring movement slightly before the termination of movement of the feeder into feeding position.

9. A combination according to claim 8, including a connection for releasing said device from the yarn as the severing means operates.

10. A combination according to claim 8, including an adjustment for the said position of said device.

11. In a knitting machine having needles,

means for operating them to knit, means including a feeder at a feeding position for introducing yarn to the needles at intervals, and means for varying said intervals, the combination of a cutter for cutting the yarn between successive introductions to leave loose ends of uniform length respect to the feeding position, and having adjustable means for determining the time of operation'of the cutter with respect to the end of each introduction.

13. A combination according to claim 11, wherein the'cutter occupies a fixed location with respect to the feeding position, and having adjustable means for determining the time of operation of the cutter with respect to the end of each introduction, and adjustable means for controlling the length of yarn presented to the needles at each introduction.

14. In a circular knitting machine having needles and means for operating them to knit, a yarn feeder for feeding yam to an arc of the needles at successive revolutions in the production of an area of fabric incorporating said yarn,

and for presenting a free end of'said yarn to the first needle of said arc, a cutter for cutting the yarn extending at each rev'olution from the feeder to the last needle of the arc and for thereby producing a loose end of yarn projecting from the fabric and a loose end of yarn projecting from the feeder, and means for reducing last said loose end, from its length at the moment of severance, for presentation to the first needle of the arc.

15. In a circular knitting machine having needles and means for operating them to knit, a yarn feeder for feeding yarn to an arc of the needles at successive revolutions in the production of an area of fabric incorporating said yarn and for presenting a free end of said yarn to the first needle of said arc, acutter for cutting the yarn extending at each revolution from the feeder to the last needle of the arc and for thereby producing a loose end of yarn projecting from the fabric and a loose end of yarn projecting from the feeder, means for subsequently shortening the last-mentioned loose end for re-presentation to the first needle of the arc with its end free, and means for varying the needles comprised in the arc.

16'. In a circular knitting machine having a circle of needles, and means for operating them to knit by rotation; a feeding eye movable across the line.of needles between a raised non-feeding position in the inside of the circle and a lowered feeding position outside the circle, means for operating'the eye to occupy the feeding position for portions of successive revolutions, a cutter inside the needle circle for cutting the yarn extending from the feeder eye each time the latter is raised to non-feeding position,

means for operating said cutter, a yam-engaging and tensioning device through which the yarn runs to the feeder eye, a support for said device permitting of its being raised and lowered, a stop for determining its lowered position, and a member, in the means for operating the feeder eye, for raising-said device with a slight lag in respect of the raising of the feeder eye.

17. In a circular knitting machine having a circle of needles, and means for operating them to knit by rotation; a feeding eye movable across the line of needles between a raised non-feeding position in the inside of the circleand a lowered feeding position outside the circle, means for operating the eye to occupy the feeding position for portion of successive revolutions, a cutter in- .permitting of its being raised and lowered, a

member, in the means for moving the eye, for raising and lowering the said device as said eye is raised and lowered, a stop for bringing the device to rest before the eye reaches its lowered feeding position, and means, including a member in the means for moving the eye, for operating the cutter as the eye is raised.

18. In a combination according to claim 17, means for releasing said device from theyarn as the cutter operates and for restoring it prior to the downward movement of said device.

19. In a knitting machine having needles and means for operating them to knit, the combination of means for repeatedly presenting a yarn to the needles, with its end free and of substantially unvarying length at each presentation thereby to produce uniform length loose ends of said yarn projectingfrom the resultant fabric at the points of introduction of said yarn to the latter, and for excluding said yarn from the needles after it has been taken by a number thereof, a severer for severing the yarn at each exclusion to form a loose end thereof projecting from the fabric, means for varying the needles taking said yarn at successive presentations thereof, means for operating the severer at each j tations. L

20. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting, means including a feeder for feeding yarn to a number of the needles, less than the 2,295,450. needles taking the yarn at successive presenone of said edges; the combination of means for severing the yarn, at each exclusion,- between the feeder and the first said edge thereby to produce loose yarn ends at said edges; means for operating the severing means to maintain at constant length the loose ends or the first said edge; and means for effecting, after each severance and prior to the next reintroduction, a reduction of the length of yarn end protruding from the feeder, thereby maintaining constant the length or the loose ends at the second mentioned edge.

BERNARD THORNTON COLE. 

